If we didn't need any more proof that private college tuition is far overpriced...

I read an article today about a Duke University student, "Lauren", who is funding her Duke education through working as an adult film performer.  She is an aspiring law student, and a Republican, and wanted to graduate debt-free.

"Word of her part-time job spread across campus after one of her classmates, Thomas Bagley, recognized her while watching porn, according to an article in The Chronicle, Duke’s student newspaper. “Lauren” confirmed the information when Bagley approached her, and asked him to keep her identity a secret.
Instead, he told others at a fraternity rush event, according to the article.
“The storm began when I came back to school from Christmas break, happy and confident in myself,” she wrote in the op-ed.
She first noticed an uptick in Facebook friend requests. Then a fellow student followed her alter ego on Twitter.
“When I got the notification, my heart stopped,” she wrote."

A few general comments...

First of all, this Thomas Bagley character is clearly a douchebag for revealing her identity when she asked him not to do so.

Second, and this is an aside, I hope this "Lauren" can resolve the fact that the Republican party is generally not noted for progressive attitudes towards women's sexuality and towards the sex industry, period. I can't imagine most Republicans opening their hearth and home to a porn star.

Third, though I support the rights of sex workers and have no issues with people making porn, I think it's naive for anyone in this industry to have any expectation of privacy. There is a reason that performing in the porn industry pays so well- there is a known risk of STDs, and there is a general stigma in society against it.  Were porn work considered a respectable profession, undoubtedly, it wouldn't pay as well.  Heck, most of us enjoy sex, and it has to be more pleasant work than flipping burgers.  In a world with no judgment, most of us would rather make our money doing something we already enjoy doing than we would, say, grave digging or scrubbing toilets.  If she is going to reap the financial benefits that come from performing in the sex industry, she needs to own her decision and accept the risk of discovery.  If a friend had an opportunity to become a porn star and asked for my advice, I'd ask her the following.  Can you think of a situation, either present or future, when you might not want the general public to know you had sex in front of a camera? Can you live with the probability that you'll be outed, now, or perhaps even 20, 30 years down the road?  How would you feel if your secret stayed locked away for years, but any potential children you might have might learn from school friends that their mother did a film called "Anal Annie Get Your Gun"?  If you are comfortable with all of this, by all means, proceed.  If there's even one tiny part of you that might be embarassed or ashamed, or if this could affect whatever future career you are seeking, then, for goodness sakes, don't do it.  Nothing stays secret in the internet age.  There are some who are comfortable living on the edge and live loud and proud.  These are the people who should be filming porn.  If you're a sex positive activist- if you intend to raise any children you may have in an open, sexually free home environment without shame or regret, you are a good candidate for porn.  If you have no intention of ever having a career that discriminates against sex workers, you are a good candidate for porn.  Someone who is saving money to open their own tattoo studio? Awesome.  Someone who is working towards being a district attorney, a pediatrician, or a kindergarten teacher?  Not so much.  I don't write the rules, I just live in the real world.

I give "Lauren" a pass here because she's very young.  I don't think I fully thought through the consequences of my life decisions until I neared 30. And I feel bad for her that she was outed.  She should not be harassed by the other students, though I fear that she'll be treated with a lack of respect from here on out. I understand why she wouldn't want that information out there.  But I hope this experience has taught her that one cannot make porn and have any expectation of anonymity.  And if she can make peace with that, by all means, get out there and make porn.  Otherwise, there are other employment options out there, but the "safer" jobs are not going to pay as much or offer the option to graduate debt-free. Or, heck, she can transfer to that public university down the road, which offers an excellent education. It's all about choices.